In Photos:

In photos: Thousands head to Jerusalem for Ramadan prayers

Muslims returning from the prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque. (MaanImages/Anna Kokko)

RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Over 350,000 Palestinians prayed at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem during the second Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Israel announced plans to allow Palestinian men above 40 to enter Jerusalem without permits, while men aged 30-40 would need permits and would be granted them if they are not banned by Israeli intelligence.

Women of all ages are allowed access.

Access during the holy month is a rare exception which remains extremely limited during the rest of the year, with holy sites in East Jerusalem off-limits to Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, both Muslim and Christian.